Wike: Rivers borrowed parade vehicle from Ondo for my inauguration in 2015

Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers, says the state borrowed a parade vehicle from Ondo in 2015 for his swearing in.

The tenure of the governor will come to an end on May 29, after taking over the leadership of the state from Rotimi Amaechi in 2015.

Speaking with his cabinet members on Thursday, Wike said his administration, unlike his predecessor’s, is leaving Rivers in a better state.

He said he could not move into the government house after his inauguration, adding that “everything was looted”.

“We didn’t have the opportunity of anyone handing over to us. It was even difficult to get a parade vehicle. We had to borrow from the governor of Ondo state, Segun Mimiko,” he said.

“That was how wicked the previous administration was. I couldn’t pack into the government house for more than a year because everything was looted, down to the pillowcase and bed sheet.

“The kitchen was looted, but that’s not part of the problem today. We thank God that we are going to hand it over successfully.

“No local government in the state can say that they have not been impacted with the development of this administration.”

Wike served as chief of staff when Amaechi was governor of the state. He was later appointed a minister of state by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Wike and Amaechi fell apart ahead of the 2015 elections, with the latter defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Wike remained in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Since then, both men have remained at loggerheads.